Political Organizations Condemn Las-Anod Attack

PRESS RELEASE

It is not necessary to review here the history of Somaliland and the noble struggle of our people for justice and democracy. It is well known that our people fought valiantly against the dictator, Mohamed Siyaad Barre, that their struggle was among the primary causes that brought him down. Also well know is that our people have shown during the past ten years that they are committed to peace, that they can settle conflicts among them peacefully, and that they have developed their own government without foreign instigation or support.

It is in light of that history that the people of Somaliland have embarked on constitutionally mandated national and local elections. The goal of these elections is to enlarge the cause of justice and democracy. We, the political organizations of Somaliland, are angered by the news of unexpected ambush by armed militia sent by Colonel' Abdulahi Yusuf Ahmed, the self-declared President of Puntland. We are also saddened by the loss of life and injuries resulting from this unexpected ambush.

We know that the President of Somaliland, Daahir Rayaale Kaahin, and his delegation had visited Las 'Aanood on a mission of peace, not of war. Meanwhile, we, the political organizations, have been preparing for th~ upcoming elections, the first of which is to take place on 15 December 2002. These elections are designed to give the people of Somaliland their democratic rights of electing their local and national leaders. These elections also represent a historic contribution to the cause of Justice and democracy not only in Somaliland but also elsewhere in the Horn of Africa.

The armed attack was orchestrated by Abdulahi Yusuf Ahmed and his underlings who know nothing about democracy, who seek to govern by the sheer violence. They want not only to rule by means of forced occupation but also to disrupt peaceful and democratic elections in Somaliland. This is because they are fundamentally opposed to the cause of justice and democracy, as shown by their rule of Puntland and by their armed ambush in Las'Aanod. Having wrestled power in Puntland by violence, they want to destroy all prospects of justice and democracy wherever they find them.

We, the political organizations, want these anti-democratic and unjust men to make no mistake about our stand and the determination of the people of Somaliland. We want them to know the following:

Since we do not view the antidemocratic and violent actions of Abdulahi Yusuf Ahmed and his underlings to represent of the people of Puntland, we do not hold ill- will or enmity to the people Puntland or Somalis anywhere.
Since democracy is not simply a luxury or convenience but a right for which people sacrifice their lives, the elections in Somaliland will proceed regardless of whether antidemocratic men like Abdulahi Yusuf Ahmed and his underlings instigate war inside our borders.
We and our supporters throughout Somaliland are prepared to defend the cause of democracy and their land to the point that, even if these warlords continue to armed ambush, our people will vote with one hand and defend their rights with the other hand.
We are convinced that people of Somaliland, wherever they are, will show their opposition to dictators and their underlings and that they will rally to the cause of justice and democracy by voting actively, widely, orderly, and peacefully.
We know that Somali people, wherever they are, yearn for justice and democracy, that, for this reason, the time of dictators and their underlings is over, regardless of what Abdulahi Yusuf Ahmed and his cronies do.

This press release is written and presented by the following political organizations: ASAD, HORMOOD, KULMIYE, SAHAN, UCID and UDUB

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